Posts Tagged ‘Electricity’

The sub-meter industry has been collaborating with landlords to put a system in place where tenants are charged separately for electricity. Landlords have allowed sub-meter companies to install sub-meters in rental units not only in new buildings but also for older buildings with sitting tenants.

Sub-meter companies are making huge profits from the collaboration. For example, according to a report in the CNW, the company Wyse Meter Solutions has made tremendous profits:

Legislation by the Government of Ontario allows landlords to install sub-meter in rental units in existing and new buildings. The result is that lease conditions are changing related to electricity use. Landlords can require tenants pay for electricity separately from their rental cost based on the new rental contract. Refer to the Government of Ontario link for clarification on how you may be affected by the new legislation:

Quote: If a landlord chooses to install a suite meter, tenants will have the choice of paying for their electricity consumption separately from rent. If electricity is currently included in a tenant’s rent, landlords must lower the rent if a tenant chooses to pay for their own electricity using a suite meter.

CAUTION – Read your lease carefully and make sure you do NOT sign any contract that states you will pay separately for electricity when renewing your lease. You do not have to pay for electricity because this cost is included in your lease. Refer to this this link below:Appendix A – Your landlord wants you to start paying for electricity – Be Careful!http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/cd/bgrd/backgroundfile-18103.pdf

The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) has issued a ‘Decision and Order’ that will allow landlords to install ‘smart sub-metering systems’ for individual rental units. Smart sub-meters’ are devices that can be installed in individual apartments to monitor a tenant’s use of energy thereby allowing individual billing.
(Refer to this link for more details: http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-23859.pdf

The main reason behind this ‘Decision and Order’ is that landlords/ property owners have been installing ‘smart meters’ in residential and commercial complexes in the absence of regulations. Ostensibly the purpose of these ‘smart meters’ is to monitor the (more…)